Description
-= CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE =-
Manufacturer: Indian
Model: PowerPlus Racer Brooklands
Year: 1916
Capacity: 1000cc
Frame number: 252
Engine number: 80H55P
Charles Gustafson left Reading Standard in 1909 and joined Indian as Oscar Hedstrom's assistant. Gustafson had designed side valve "flathead" engines for Reading Standard, which had been the first motorcycle manufacturer in the United States to use a flathead engine in a production motorcycle. When Hedstrom left Indian in 1913, Gustafson became Indian's chief engineer. In late 1915, Indian introduced Gustafson's replacement for Hedstrom's 1. 000 cc V-twin engine. The new engine used side valves instead of the inlet-over-exhaust valve layout used in Hedstrom's designs. The flathead engine was quieter and less expensive to manufacture than the earlier IOE engine and needed less maintenance. It was named "Powerplus" because its output of approximately 16ps was noticeably greater than that of the earlier engine. The new engine was installed in the existing frames for Indian V-twin motorcycles, and used existing drivetrain components, tanks, handlebars, and other components. The drive train included a clutch, a kickstarter, and a three-speed gearbox. The standard frame for the Powerplus had a conventional rigid rear wheel mounting, but the Powerplus was also available with Indian's Cradle Spring Frame.
This PowerPlus racer has been overhauled a couple of years ago and is in fine running condition. She is equppid with a Schebler carburetor and a Dixie magneto. This Indian a fabulous piece for a vintage event or only for display in a room for men with café or wine.
